Comments on: How do i become a better poker player?

By: spencer f

spencer f — Thu, 02 Apr 2009 16:49:50 +0000

You can get a ton of free poker tips from pro poker players at, I would highly recomend anyone just starting out to check it out. Lots of good information in there.

By: Bob B

Bob B — Mon, 30 Mar 2009 05:10:50 +0000

You might want to check out this free poker ebook. It has tons of great tips and step by step instructions on how to improve your poker game.

By: Barry M

Barry M — Sat, 28 Mar 2009 03:43:28 +0000

The only way to get good at anything is to practice. That means playing as much as possible. But be careful of the play money or cheap games on the internet. They can teach you bad habits, because they are often “unrealistic”, for a couple reasons:

1) Other players do not play “seriously” when there is no consequences for bad play. Many players always see the river, no matter how bad their hand is. This is not what they would do in a real money game. So you won’t learn much in such games.

2) In my opinion, the poker sites “enhance” fake money and cheap money games to make players think they are better than they are. This encourages novice players to start playing real money games, which is what generates income for the poker site. I cannot prove this, so it’s just my opinion, but I am sure that fake money and cheap money games will not make you a better players.

To be good, you have to play in real games for real money. This means live games with live people seated around you. You have to be able to see the other players sweat to become a good player yourself.

Just my opinion, but I’m almost as old as Doyle Brunson, and we both learned the hard way (he just learned it much better).

By: chefantwon

chefantwon — Thu, 26 Mar 2009 00:28:17 +0000

I would recommend getting Dan Harrington’s 2 books.

I have been playing for about 6 months now and playing the free sites will help you get the game mechanics down. Betting amounts, styles of play, reading other players are just a few of the things you can pick up.

Try cardschat.com for some tips and advice from other poker players to help your game.

By: lawbrum319

lawbrum319 — Tue, 24 Mar 2009 16:52:08 +0000

First of all, don’t take advcice from a guy that tells you a straight beats a full-house. It doesn’t unless its a straight flush. Anyway, back to your question. I’ve played poker for 4 years. Here is my advice. First, don’t play the free games. You learn nothing at these online tables other than how the mechanics of the game works. Examples: blinds, betting, raising, etc… As for strategy, people playing for free will chase cards trying to catch flushes, straights, or pairs. So you really dont learn a thing. Deposit some real money on a reputable site ( Ful-Tilt, Ultimate Bet) and then play in some small $1 or $2 sit&gos. The play here is loose as well, and you will get some bad players chasing, but not as bad as in a free roll. Once you start feeling a little better about your game, steadily move up. Another issue for new players is patience. Here is a great way to handle this problem. Buy in to a $5 or $10 multi-table tourney. You can expect to be play against anywhere from 150 to 500 other players. Patience is the only way to do well in these. My last bit of advice is to go out or look on Ebay for Howard Ledderers DVD. It is geared toward beginners and even comes with a cheat sheet for what hands to play from the various positions when you are new. Hope this helps.

By: coldrain

coldrain — Sun, 22 Mar 2009 10:32:13 +0000

Two things: Discipline and Able to push all-in with nothing.

By: sincity usa

sincity usa — Fri, 20 Mar 2009 13:23:58 +0000

You could go buy some books and they will tell you in general terms on how to play, but in the end it is all situations. Some important questions you have to ask yourself when you play a hand of poker are, What is my position, how many chips do i have, how many others are in the pot with you, are the other players aggressive, am i playing aggressive right now or i am playing tight, can i bet and take down the pot, do i have the right odds to call. Knowing your position and knowing your opponents are the key to winning. I always play aggressive poker, but i am aggressive for a reason. Raising and re raising just to do it will only break your bank roll. But playing is the best way to get better, the more hands you play the more you know about the game.

By: sabes99

sabes99 — Tue, 17 Mar 2009 08:32:16 +0000

since you are playing small stakes, if you have read any legitimate literature on the game you are probably better than the vast majority of your competition…the best way to play in those games is to be very straightforward, with no bluffing unless you recognize that your opponent is playing tight, because most players on this level just call down with anything

as for poker books, the harrington on hold ‘em series is very educational for players of all levels…once you advance out of lower levels i would recommend doyle brunson’s super/system and super/system 2, they give great advice on how to play power poker and how to win at medium and higher games

By: Sarafina Chung

Sarafina Chung — Tue, 17 Mar 2009 05:58:09 +0000

Give them the face.

By: Demetrios P

Demetrios P — Sat, 14 Mar 2009 22:29:43 +0000

I play a lot of poker. It is 100% skill and 100% luck. I played in my live and online tourneys where I made the right move but luck was not on my side. Try fulltiltpoker.net with poker code: REALPOKER and get a bonus. See you there.
David Sklansky and Dan Harrington have really good books especially Harrington but start with the first then move on.